SAINT PHILOMENA THE WONDER-WORKER by Father Paul O’Sullivan, O.P. (E.D.M) “The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.” - Wisdom 3:1,4-5 "Come, spouse of Christ, receive the crown which the Lord hath prepared for thee for ever: for the love of Whom thou didst shed thy blood. Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. With thy comeliness and thy beauty, set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.” - Tract from the Feast of a Virgin Martyr, The Roman Missal CONTENTS Publisher's Note Letters of Cardinals and Bishops Foreword: A priest and a Soldier 1. The Catacombs 2. The finding of the Body of St. Philomena 3. The Marvels of Mugnano 4. The Great Miracle of Mugnano 5. A Visit to Mugnano 6. The Cure of Ars and St. Philomena 7. Other Favored Sanctuaries 8. The Sovereign Pontiffs and St. Philomena 9. The Intercession of the Saints 10. Who Was St. Philomena? 11. How to Honor St. Philomena 12. What the Thaumaturga Does for Schools 13. Answers to Prayer SUPPLEMENT No. 1: St. Philomena Vindicated SUPPLEMENT No. 2: Letters from Readers APPENDIX: Prayers PUBLISHER'S NOTE Sometimes a question arises about devotion to St. Philomena being no longer acceptable in the Church. This question comes up because on February 14, 1961, just prior to Vatican Council II, the Sacred Congregation of Rites in Rome issued an instruction that St. Philomena's feast day, August 11, was to be removed from all liturgical calendars (which would include the liturgical calendars of the universal Church as well as calendars of particular dioceses or congregations which might include special feast days). A number of other feast days were likewise dropped at that time. This instruction was a liturgical directive. It was not a declaration that St. Philomena was not a saint, nor a prohibition of private devotion to St. Philomena. Actually, at least in the United States, the instruction had little or no effect as far as the liturgy goes, for the Feast of St. Philomena had not been listed in the Missal for some years even prior to the instruction. In any case, private devotion to St. Philomena is still very praiseworthy. It is our hope that a renewal of devotion to St. Philomena will lead to a great shower of graces and favors from Heaven -- to lead, in turn, to the restoration of the Feast of St. Philomena throughout the universal Church. - TAN Books and Publishers, Inc. October 26, 1993 LETTERS OF CARDINALS AND BISHOPS Paco Patriarcal, Goa My dear Reverend Father, It was with most lively satisfaction that I read the beautiful life of St. Philomena published by you. I am one of the least but most sincere clients of this great Saint, having received through her powerful intercession most special favours, among them 8,000 pounds for the Missionary Colleges. I dedicated to her honour our principal chapel . I have also placed under her protection and that of St. Francis Xavier the pious Association of the Missions which I have established. Aware of how potent is the intercession of St. Philomena with the Almighty, and also moved by sentiments of gratitude towards her, I heartily congratulate you on the publication of the life of the dear little Saint, venerated by the Roman Pontiffs themselves and so tenderly loved by that great saint, the Curé of Ars. I fervently hope that this book may have the widest possible circulation. I remain, my dear Father, Yours devotedly in Jesus Christ, + Theotonio, Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the Indies Archbishop's House Port-of-Spain, Trinidad May 15th, 1926 My dear Father O'Sullivan, I thank you very sincerely for the copy you sent me of St. Philomena The Wonder- Worker, which I read and admired very much. It is very attractive, well-printed, the style is simple and the reading matter informative and deliciously compelling. No one can read the book without becoming a client of the Saint. I lent it to a person who had a friend seriously ill with rheumatic fever, and thanks to the intercession of St. Philomena and Our Lady of Lourdes, the sick person was marvelously cured. I shall always recommend the book to our people here. I remain, dear Father O'Sullivan, Yours devotedly in Our Divine Lord, + John Pius, Archbishop of Port-of-Spain June 2nd, 1926 Archbishop's House My dear Father Paul, Thanks very much for the copy of St. Philomena The Wonder-Worker you so kindly sent me. I read it with keen interest. It is simply fascinating, well written and beautifully brought out. Anyone reading it is sure to develop a strong devotion to the Saint who has such a powerful influence with our Divine Lord. I hope to spread the devotion to St. Philomena in this Archdiocese. She has a large number of clients here already. Wishing your apostolate of the Press every blessing, I am, believe me, dear Father Paul, Very sincerely yours, + Robert W. Spence , Archbishop of Adelaide Archbishop's House Westminister, London S.W. 1 30th June, 1926 Dear Father O'Sullivan, Thanks very much for the book on St. Philomena, which I trust will lead to an increase of devotion to the little Saint so closely associated with the Curé of Ars. Once more I beg God to bless the work of Catholic propaganda in which you are engaged. May God give complete success to all your efforts. Your devoted servant in Christ, Francis Cardinal Bourne Archbishop of Westminister Patriarchal Palace, Lisbon, 18th of August, 1927 To the Rev. Father O'Sullivan. Very Reverend and Dear Father: We heartily approve and recommend the beautiful little book recently published by you entitled St. Philomena The Wonder-Worker. The book is full of interesting information, its teaching eminently practical, and its arguments carry with them conviction --- based, as they are, not only on the authority of distinguished writers and scientists, but still more on the clear, categorical and repeated decisions of the Roman Congregations and the Declaration of the Sovereign Pontiffs themselves. We, therefore, desire that the book have a wide circulation for the greater glory of God and for the honour of His servant Philomena. We grant 100 days indulgence to the faithful of this Patriarchate who read this book for at least a quarter of an hour each day. I remain, my dear Father, Yours devotedly in Jesus Christ, + Antonio , Cardinal Patriarch Bishop's House, Middlesborough 18 January, 1929 My dear Father O'Sullivan, Let me thank you very warmly for your goodness in sending me a copy of your excellent booklet entitled St. Philomena The Wonder-Worker. Let me say at once that I am very pleased with your book, which is so calculated to spread devotion to this Dear Little Saint. There is a devotion to her in this diocese which I should like very much to increase. I should be so glad if you would order for me 100 copies of your book. We have a statue of the Saint in the Cathedral here. At St. Patrick's Church, Middlesborough, the Saint has her chapel, with a nice altar and statue, where she has worked many wonders. I feel sure your book will do much good in spreading the devotion to the Saint. Yours sincerely in Jesus Christ, + Richard , Bishop of Middlesborough Foreword A PRIEST AND A SOLDIER The writer of the following short sketch [that is, this book] was himself at one time very little in sympathy with the "dear Little Saint," as the holy Curé of Ars loved to style St. Philomena. In fact, he strenuously opposed the erection of her statue in the church then under his direction. Happily, however, the Saint, in her own inimitable way, overcame with a sweet violence this unworthy opposition and transformed her would-be antagonist into one of her most grateful clients. This fact will go far to show how impartial is the testimony he bears to her. The erection of her statue in his church was the signal for a shower of graces bestowed not only on him, but on the members of his flock, who speedily became convinced by personal experience that St. Philomena was, in truth, a most amazing wonder-worker and a most generous protector of all who have recourse to her. Favors were multiplied, blessings followed in quick succession, graces of all kinds were granted in such abundance that verily the floodgates of Heaven seemed open. Frequently as many as fifteen lamps were seen burning before her statue, whereas the custom of the church had, up to then, allowed of but one lamp for each altar. When the same church was threatened with seemingly inevitable ruin, the Saint intervened and saved it from certain destruction in a wonderful way. If the writer of the sketch is a priest, the kind friend who has undertaken to defray the cost of the publication is a soldier, who, no less than the priest, has reason to be grateful to the Little Thaumaturga. (1) Many and great are the favors he owes her -- not the least of which: man's great ambition, "a happy marriage and a charming home." Very striking was the favor bestowed on him during the Great War.